- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
WASHINGTON — The Navajo Nation on Monday sued the Department of Interior and Secretary David Bernhardt in federal court over the tribe’s 2020 contract for its forestry management program.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, stems from a contract dispute between the Navajo Nation and the DOI's Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Last September, Navajo Nation submitted a Successor Annual Funding Agreement (SAFA) proposal for the tribe's forestry management program. The SAFA proposal was declined by the BIA in December 2019 for two reasons: First, the BIA claimed, the proposed work couldn’t be properly completed or maintained by the proposed contract and, second, the amount of funds proposed exceeded the applicable level of funding.
Navajo Nation appealed the BIA’s decision by requesting an Informal Conference, which was held on February 18, 2020. Two days later, the Secretary’s Designated Representative issued a recommended decision in the Navajo Nation’s favor.
The decision concluded that the BIA’s reasons for declining the proposal were “legally insufficient” and did not meet the “statutory threshold requirement.” The recommended decision also said the BIA should “immediately approve and award [Navajo Nation] funding of $717,736.77” to resolve the issue. The recommended decision became final for the DOI on March 30, 2020 after the appeal period expired.
In the lawsuit, Navajo Nation asks the court to compel the DOI and Bernhard to approve the 2020 SAFA proposal and statement of work as proposed and to immediately award applicable funding of $717,736.77 to the Nation.
Native News Online reached out to a DOI spokesperson, who responded, but did not provide a statement prior to publication time. This story will be updated if the DOI offers a comment.
More Stories Like This
Wahlberg Brothers Are a Big Hit at Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention in Las VegasNative Gro Offers Tribes a ‘One-Stop Shop’ for Entering the Cannabis Industry
Little River Holdings & Wahlberg Brothers to Announce Partnership at Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention
Oneida Casino To Be First in Wisconsin to Offer Sports Betting
BIA Awards Over $6.5 Million in Energy and Mineral Grants to 34 Tribes and ANCs
Native Perspective. Native Voices. Native News.
We launched Native News Online because the mainstream media often overlooks news that is important is Native people. We believe that everyone in Indian Country deserves equal access to news and commentary pertaining to them, their relatives and their communities. That's why the story you’ve just finished was free — and we want to keep it that way, for all readers. We hope you'll consider making a donation to support our efforts so that we can continue publishing more stories that make a difference to Native people, whether they live on or off the reservation. Your donation will help us keep producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices. Any contribution of any amount — big or small — gives us a better, stronger future and allows us to remain a force for change. Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous journalism. Thank you.
